The Christian Life's Command to Prove All Things

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The Christian life has never been an easy one. There is the command to prove all things and to hold fast to which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The life of the Christian is never easy. In fact, we're told in Acts 14:22 that entering the Kingdom of God is through much tribulation. This isn't all about faith plus works formula but rather that the Christian life will never be easy. The Christian life is not mean to be easy as Matthew 7:13-14 warns that the way of life is narrow. The more the Christian enters into life the harder it becomes but the harder it becomes by faith in God alone can these difficulties can be overcome. Titus 2:11-14 says that God's grace gives strength to survive the Christian life.

First, there's the command to prove all things by obeying what the Bible says.

 There is always the obedience of blessing and the curse of disobedience. Deuteronomy 11:26-27 says that there's a curse if you disobey and a blessing if you obey. However, this doesn't mean that this is a life free of trouble like how the prosperity "gospel" crowd says it. On the other hand, the more you are right with God the more you expect to be cursed by the world. This blessing is not a blessing as happy, healthy and wealthy all the time but this is more of the eternal reward.

The Christian life is blessing through hardship and tribulation. The Bible says in Matthew 5:11-12 that blessed are those who are persecuted for the wrong reasons. This means one is wrongfully persecuted for doing what's right when everybody's doing wrong. This is persecution for being a Christian and for standing by God's Word. John 15:18-19 warns about Christians are not of this world. Because they are not of this world they can expect the world to hate them.

Second, there's the command to test by wisdom

 James 1:5 says that if you lack wisdom ask of God. This is the commandment to seek for wisdom.
Why do so many fail in the Christian life? It's because they ask for wisdom. Asking for wisdom doesn't mean instantaneous learning. Sometimes, God allows people to commit mistakes as part of the learning process. This is all about humbling the person while he teaches them to be wise. It's all about asking for wisdom in doing God's will.

If there's one example of a man who succeeded and failed in asking for wisdom it is King Solomon. Solomon had a good start. He was a man who asked for wisdom from God. 1 Kings 3:6-9 has Solomon asking for wisdom. But time came when he got obsessed with himself and horribly backslid. It was in Ecclesiastes he wrote everything about his foolishness. He saw through how his foolishness and repented of it in the whole book.

Third, there's the command to test by indisputable evidence

 Many think Christianity is a religion of blind faith. On the contrary, Christianity is actually a religion that says, "Believe and you will see." Christianity is the religion that seeks to test all things and find the truth. This is in huge contrast to the blind faith of the atheist who believes in the millions of years of evolution that they couldn't even observe or prove. It's all about searching for the evidence to prove one's faith.

1 Peter 3:15-17 commands Christians to be always ready for the answer for the reason that's in them. I remembered reading the book by the late D. James Kennedy entitled "Why I Believe". It was many years ago and I still remembered reading the book's defense by providing historical and scientific evidence. Romans 1:20 says that all things are clearly seen as evidence of creation. Christians must always present the evidence though they must also take note that not everyone is going to believe. This is all about learning why you believe it since Christianity is not a religion of blind faith.

Fourth, there's the command of self-examination

 Do you know that self-examination is important in the Christian life? 1 Corinthians 13:5 shows that every person must examine themselves whether they be in the faith or not. But the command is not only set to make sure you're saved because you could be a false convert. Also, this is a command for Christian growth. While it's good to have fellow Christians correct fellow Christians but Christians should also examine themselves.

Self-examination can help in these ways. Sometimes, Christians can doubt their salvation because they've backslid or sinned. They still have bad habits that are too hard to destroy. They must examine, themselves like seeing for the motive of their good works, the sins they have left unconfessed. the life they're living and whether or not they seek to know God more. It's by seeing one's progress that one can also say that it's not be but it's God as one works out in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).

Fifth, the sincerity of one's love

 It's time to think how much does a Christian love the LORD as of present? This love grows and it's not instantaneous. One can think that they love the one hour Bible class but they can't have enough. They love attending the preaching of the pastor but it's not enough. They can't have enough of the LORD and they want to know Him more. This is also evident that the Christian life is not under the obligation of the Law but doing good works as a result of God's grace. Romans 3:31 says that now the Law is to be fulfilled by faith. Ephesians 2:10 says every Christian is ordained to do good works as a result of salvation.

There are three things to remember. First, serving God is a privilege for the saved. Hebrews 9:12 says that the blood of Jesus redeems people from their dead works that couldn't please God. Now they're working hard to please God. Second, it's all about diligence to one's work. God's grace makes the person diligent. The flesh wants to be lazy but the new man wants to be diligent. God always finds a way to make those who are His industrious and love their work. Third, it's a call to work for God while it's day. The good works will flourish but God wants more good works. John 15:1-8 says that God will always find ways to make Christians fruitful as He pleases.

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